Car coupler



June 24 1924.

W. J. REGAN CAR COUPLER Filed July 10. 1923 Patented June 24, 1924 UNETE STATES WILLIAM J; REGAN, 0F WILKINSBURG; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MGCON- WAY 6r, TORLEY COMPANY, IENNSYLVA MIA.

0 3" PITTSBURGH, PENN$YLV.AI'TIA, A CORBORATIQN OF CAB COUPLER.

Application filed an 10, 1923,

T0 (2. whom it may condemn lie it known that I, lVILLL-iM J. REGAN, citizen of the United States, residing at lYilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and ltate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to car couplers designed to be pivotally mounted upon a railway vehicle, and especially to the type of coupler having a short shank which is pivotally connected to a pocket casting mounted upon the bumper beam of a locomotive or tender. The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for relieving the coupler from wear incident to its relative turning movement with respect to the pivot pin.

The principal feature of the invention, generally stated, consists in providing the shank of the coupler with a pivot pin opening for receiving a cylindrical bushing within which the pivot pin of the mechanism fits, the bushing being provided with a slot 'and either of its ends being adapted to enter the pivot pin opening so that said bushing may occupy alternative assembled positions with respect to the coupler, and the shank of the coupler having formed integral therewith a key adapted to project into the slot of the bushing in either assembled position which the bushing may occupy,

A. further feature of the invention con sists in locating the key which extends into the slot of the bushing at one side of the longitudinal axis of the coupler, and in making the said key coextensive in length with the bushing. ther features of the invention, residing in particular details of con struction, will hereinafter appear In the drawings illustrating the invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,-

Figure 1 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing a car coupler embodying the invention pivotally associated with a coupler pocket.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the coupler and associated bushing, taken on the line 2-2, Fig". 1.

Serial No. 650,650.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the bushing,

Figure i is a plan view of the bushing In the drawings, 1 indicates a car -conpler of the pocket type; that is to say, it is formed with a short shank 2 which is pir otally connected to a coupler pocket 3 by means of a pivot pin l. The details of construction of the coupler pocket formno part of the present invention, and any other well known. or preferred form of pocket member may be employed if desired.

Concentric with its rounded rear end 5 the coupler shank 2 is provided with a pivot pin opening 6 into which fits a split or slotted cylindrical bushing 7 surrounding the pivot pin 4. The coupler shank has integrally united thereto a key 8 which enters the slot 9 of the bushing and thus serves to prevent rotation of the latter with. respect to the coupler. The slot 9 is preferably coextensive in length with the bushing and the key 8 likewise preferably extends from end to end of the latter. By this means both ends of the bushing are effectively held and the tendency of one end of the bushing to twist and be distorted with respect to its other end when the coupler swings upon its pivot 4;, is avoided. The life of the bushing is thereby increased as the elimination of twisting decreases its liability to fracture, especially when through long service it has become comparatively thin:

The key 8 is preferably of such size that its exposed inner surface is depressed somewhat with respect to the inner surface of the bushing 7. thus being protected against wear from the pivot pin 4. In couplers of the type shown in the drawings the key 8 may advantageously be located at one side of the longitudinal axis of the coupler, since the portions of the bushing at the sides of the coupler are least subject to wear under service conditions,

Either end of the bushing is adapted to be entered in the pivot pin opening of the coupler, thus enabling said bushing to be re versed end for end so as to occupy alterna tive assembled positions. As the rear end 5 of the coupler shank abuts during buffing against the back of the pocket casting 3 in which it is mounted, little or no wear occurs at the front of the bushing. The rear of the bushing 7 is, however, worn as a result of pivotal movements of the coupler during pulling but the capability of the bushing being assembled in alternative positions permits it when thus worn to be removed and reapplied in reverse position as to present a fresh wearing surface.

The bushingmay be made of any suitable thickness to {it the various sizes of pivot pins used or to suit a worn pin. Its simplii ity enables it to be, readily and economically manufactured or easily reproduced tor rcpair purposes It may advantageously be either a casting or be formed by slitting or slotting a piece of tubing or it may be produced from a flat rolled plate of suitable thickness bent to shape.

While I have shown and descibed the specific embodiment of the invention re garded as most advantageous and efficient, it is to he understood that changes in details of construction may be made without de-- parting from the spirit oi the invention.

1 claim l. The combination of a car coupler having a shank provided with a pivot pin opening, and a slotted bushing: fitting in said opening and adapted to receive a pivot pin tor connecting the coupler to a car, said shank having integrally united thereto a key extending in the direction of length of said opening and projecting; into the slot of said bushing.

2. The combination of a car coupler having a shank provided with a pivot pin opening} and a cylindrical bushing fitting in said opening: and adapted. to receive a pivot pin said bushing being provided with a slot extending from end to end thereof, and said shank having formed integral therewith a key extending; into said slot.

3. The combination of a car coupler having a shank provided with a pivot pin opening and a bushing fitting in said opening' and adapted to receive a pivot pin. said coupler shank being provided with means integral therewith for cooperating with opposite ends of said bushing to prevent rotation of the latter a. The combination of a car coupler having a pivot pin opening, and a bushing fitting into said opening and adapted to receive a pivot pin, said bushingbeing formed with slot extending from end to end thereo't and said coupler having formed integral therewith a key projecting into but not extending through said slot.

The combination of a car coupler having a pivot pin opening and a bushing; fitting into said opening; and adapted to receive a pivot pin. said bushing being); slotted and being adap ed to lit into said opening when either of its ends is uppermost and said coupler being provided with means projecting into said slot for preventing rotation o't said bushing); in either of its assembled positions.

6. The combination with a coupler pocket, of a car coupler having; a shank provided with a pivot pin opening, a bushing slotted from end to end and arranged in said open inn. and a pivot pin extending through said bushing and pivotally connecting said coupler to said coupler pocket, said coupler havinp; tormed integral therewith at one sideof the longitudinal axis thereof a key extending; into the slot of said bushing.

7. lhe coml 'nation ot a car coupler having a shank provided with a pivot pin opening, andv a cylindrical bushing fitting into said opening and adapted to receive a pivot pin, said bushing being provided with a slot and ither of its ends being adapted to enter said opening, whereby said bushing may occupy alternative assembled positions with respect to said coupler, and said coupler shank having integrally united thereto key means adapted to enter said slot to prevent rotation of said, bushing.

In testimony whereof I lVILLIAM J, REGAN afiix my signature. 

